AESTHETIC DERMATOLOGY

Aesthetic or cosmetic dermatology is focussed on protecting, maintaining and restoring skin health and appearance using medical treatments. It involves the treatment of a variety of conditions including acne scars, age spots, facial and spider veins, milia, pigmentation, wrinkles and unwanted hair. Its primary purpose is to improve a person’s appearance by reducing or eliminating imperfections. The majority of these imperfections are related to the skin, in particular the face, while a few treatments address the nails, scalp and hair.

Some forms of aesthetic dermatology may address chronic skin conditions such as eczema and acne. These can be treated via chemical peels or light therapy. Other skin conditions such as spider veins can be removed via laser treatments. Botox injections are a common cosmetic procedure to address signs of ageing, such as multiple fine lines or wrinkles.

The skin suffers from wear and tear with use and with time. The causes of wear and tear can be divided into intrinsic or extrinsic. Intrinsic wear and tear occurs with the passage of time and varies according to the person’s genetic factors. Extrinsic wear and tear occurs through exposure to external factors such as Sun exposure, smoking and environmental pollution. Aesthetic dermatology treatments emphasise on restoring the health and appearance of the skin that occurs through both intrinsic and extrinsic wear and tear.

Excision of moles, epidermal cysts and other benign skin lesions can be performed on any part of the body. A mole or other skin lesion that seems atypical, changes in size and appearance, bleeds, is asymmetrical, is not uniform in colour, or has irregular edges should be examined by an experienced doctor for early diagnosis and treatment.

A milium, also called a milk spot or an oil seed, a keratin-filled cyst that can appear just under the epidermis or on the roof of the mouth. Milia are commonly associated with newborn babies but can appear on people of all ages.

A seborrhoeic keratosis is a non-cancerous benign skin growth that originates in keratinocytes. Like liver spots, seborrhoeic keratoses are seen more often as people age. In fact, they are sometimes humorously referred to as the “barnacles of old age”.

Syringomas are harmless sweat duct tumours, typically found clustered on eyelids, although they may also be found in the armpits, umbilicus, or vulva. They are skin-coloured or yellowish firm rounded bumps and measures 1-3 mm in diameter.